Michigan State offers LCC’s O’Connor

Michigan State signed Connor Cook (Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit), one of
the top senior quarterbacks in the state of Ohio, for their 2011
recruiting class. They have now officially thrown their hat in the ring
for one of the top Ohio 2012 signal-callers…

Michigan State signed Connor Cook (Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit), one of the top senior quarterbacks in the state of Ohio, for their 2011 recruiting class. They have now officially thrown their hat in the ring for one of the top Ohio 2012 signal-callers, Tyler O’Connor (Lima Central Catholic).

O’Connor attended Michigan State’s junior day on Sunday with his parents and before he left had a scholarship offer from the Spartans.

“We were in a meeting as a group,” O’Connor said. “Then one of the assistant coaches said coach (Mark) Dantonio wanted to talk to me and my parents in his office. That’s when he offered. I was pretty excited.”

While he was excited, O’Connor was not caught totally off guard by the offer. MSU assistant Mike Tressel had sent O’Connor a hand-written letter saying he was their No. 1 quarterback target in Ohio.

On Sunday Dantonio explained the process the Michigan State staff went through leading up to offering O’Connor a scholarship.

“He said they start in Michigan and then go to Ohio,” O’Connor said. “He said I was their No. 1 quarterback in Michigan and Ohio. He (also) explained how they go through levels when they offer.”

O’Connor did not commit to the Spartans, but he is certainly considering their offer.

“When (Dantonio) offered I smiled and said I was very glad to hear that,” O’Connor said. “I told Coach Dantonio I was very excited.”

While at the Spartans’ junior day O’Connor and his parents received a tour of the facilities, met many of the Michigan State coaches and attended the Michigan State-Purdue basketball game.

“Coach Tressel took me on a tour at halftime of the basketball game,” O’Connor said. “I liked the facilities. They are better than anything I’ve ever seen. All the coaches are really nice to be around. It would be a great place to call home.”

O’Connor has been Central Catholic’s starting quarterback since the beginning of his freshman season. He has led Central Catholic to state playoff appearances the past two seasons.

O’Connor and his teammates made it to the state semi-finals and finished with a 12-2 record this past season as O’Connor threw for 2,516 yards and 27 touchdowns with just six interceptions. He rushed for 470 yards and 13 touchdowns.

The 6-foot-3 and 210-pound O’Connor has scholarship offers from Michigan State, Northwestern, Bowling Green, Toledo and Miami of Ohio.

“I can’t say I have a favorite. I can honestly say I haven’t seen everyone yet.”Bill Kurelic’s Comment: O’Connor is going to explore his options and his scholarship offer list is likely to grow before he picks a college. But the Spartans seem to be squarely in the thick of things for his services.